Warm Hearts, Hot Chocolate and Safe Spaces
Once a fortnight, ‘The Lounge’ project transforms a classroom at Cowbridge Comprehensive School into a space where Year 7 pupils can meet and chat over a free hot chocolate during their lunch break.
The project was set up over a year ago by Rev. Emma Street following on from the success of similar projects in and around Neath started in conjunction with the Church Army. It has proved hugely popular; all Year 7s are welcome and they often get more than 50 pupils attending.
The queue for hot chocolate grows faster than the team can pass them out. For the pupils, it can be an oasis in a busy day and an opportunity to chat and socialise, especially at the start of the academic year where everyone is still getting to know each other.
The team often see the same individuals returning time after time, keen to update them on how they’re doing, and they have been ably supported by several sixth form students who give up their lunch break to come and assist. It’s a fantastic opportunity to make connections with those coming from primary schools without direct church links and reconnect with those already encountered through our CinW primary schools.
The project is supported by clergy and volunteers from Heritage Coast, East Vale and Cowbridge Ministry Areas, and they would love to hear from others who may be interested in helping.
It would be wonderful to expand the team so that they have more capacity to interact with the pupils as they come through – they are all so keen to chat! The project runs on Tuesdays from 12:15pm-1pm, approximately once a fortnight in term-time. All volunteers will need to complete a DBS check through the school prior to starting.
For more information, contact emmastreet@cinw.org.uk